02/20 09:15 Monsanto Introduces FARMSOURCE.Com, The Complete, Free,
On-Line Network <MTC.N>
Monsanto Introduces FARMSOURCE.Com, The Complete, Free, On-Line Network For
U.S. Agriculture
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Monsanto Company (NYSE: MTC)
announced today the launch of FARMSOURCE.com, a state-of-the-art Internet
site, search engine and e-commerce offering sure to grab the attention of U.S.
growers, retailers and agriculturists desiring a simple and effective way to
manage information and access services on-line.
FARMSOURCE.com will launch March 1. Growers and others attending the
National Corn Growers Association's Commodity Classic here will be among the
first to sample FARMSOURCE.com at Monsanto's exhibit, where four computers
with Internet access have been set up.
"The Internet has become the preferred communication method/information
source for a growing number of our customers," said Len Botkin, Monsanto
Farmsource.com manager. "To meet the needs of these customers, we worked with
them to develop a completely new on-line resource that connects growers to
retailers and retailers to Monsanto, creating a free online network that gives
U.S. users a comprehensive, easy-to-use source for important agricultural
information and services on the Internet.
Monsanto cited l998 market research surveys, as well as results of USDA
and Gallup polls, that indicate that 20-25% of growers are currently on the
Internet. In addition, a recent Monsanto survey of over 400 U.S. growers
found that 60% own computers and 31% are Internet-connected. What is most
significant is that the Internet-connected growers have increased in one year
by 70% or from 18% in l997 to 31% in l998.
FARMSOURCE.com includes up-to-the-minute ag information, including local
cash prices, weather, commodities prices, and ag news -- all customized
through a dynamic site to meet personal interests. The site will offer
business services for retailers that include on-line ordering of Monsanto
chemical products, automated monitoring of their Monsanto bulk product
inventories, on-line training and the ability to easily create a personalized
web page for their business on FARMSOURCE.
Other features include comprehensive product and label information about
Monsanto's agricultural products, and an agriculture search engine that makes
it easy to find agriculture information on the Internet. The ability to
easily find agricultural information on the Internet through the search engine
on FARMSOURCE.com makes FARMSOURCE.com a portal site for U.S. growers and
retailers, said Botkin.
"Growers, retailers and distributors told us that access to information
that is timely, accurate, complete and relevant is essential to the long-term
success of their businesses," Botkin said. "Technologies like the Internet
can access more information than anyone could ever absorb. Key for the
Internet user is the ability to quickly and easily find complete and accurate
information on any relevant subject. FARMSOURCE helps users do exactly that
-- it allows users to customize the site into a form that delivers exactly the
information they desire."
As a life sciences company, Monsanto is committed to finding solutions to
the growing global needs for food and health by sharing common forms of
science and technology among agriculture, nutrition and health. The company's
30,000 employees worldwide make and market high-value agricultural products,
pharmaceuticals and food ingredients.
SOURCE Monsanto Company
-0- 02/20/99
/CONTACT: Lisa Drake, 314-694-3540, email, lisa.m.drake@monsanto.com, or
Robin Johnston, 314-726-5511 ext. 3418, both of Monsanto Company/
/Web site: monsanto.com
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